Container producing machine



Oct. 6, 1942. H. E. RUE- 2,298,173

CONTAINER PRODUCING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR HAROLD E.RUE

ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1942. RUE 2,298,173

CONTAINER PRODUCING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HAROLD ERUE ATTORNEYS IIIII 3 I I I- I I I rnrv: Q m I I- (I I I I I 4 41 I 6 A 5% 1 n F42 1 0 XVI I I 1;

iatentecl Oct. 6, 194-2 UNHTE CDNTAINER PRODUCING MACHINE Harold E. Rue, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Pabst Brewing Company, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 8, 1941, Serial No. 392,412

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machine method for producing containers consisting of a fibrous cylindrical shell provided with metallic end closures, and more particularly, to forming the shell of a container by winding a web of paper or fibrous material upon a mandrel, and feeding a metallic closure strip between a pair of turns adjacent their edge for subsequent attachment of an end cap.

It is old in the art to produce containers in the foregoing manner but, as far as is known serious difficulty has been encountered in securely attaching the metallic strips of the end closures between the layers of the wound fibrous web for the prevention of leakage in event of development of excessive pressure within the container, particularly in containers utilized for carbonated beverages or other liquids effected by agitation or increase in temperature.

To overcome the foregoing objection, the present invention has primarily for its object the provision of a mechanism for securely attaching a metallic strip between wound layers of a fiber shell, in such manner that the strip cannot be forced or severed from the shell by pressure created within the container without first rupturing either the shell or end closures.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object resides in the provision of a mechanism, including a rotatable mandrel upon which a fibrous web, one surface of which is coated with a suitable adhesive, is wound under pressure, during which operation a metallic strip provided with prongs struck out at right angles is fed between turns of the web, causing the prongs to pierce the web, after which the projected ends are engaged by a presser foot that progressively folds the ends back upon the pierced webin one direction as the shell is rotated.

A further object resides in the provision of a presser foot having an arcuate face conforming to the periphery of the pierced web and having a side face disposed at an angle in the path of travel of the prongs for gradually folding the ends down upon the web.

Another object of the invention comprises the novel method practiced by means of the mechanism illustrated and described.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel method, construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims. 7

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional View of a container forming mechanism incorporating features of the present invention, the same being taken on the line Il of Figure 6.

Figures 2 and 3 are similar views illustrating the manner in which the presser foot clinches the prongs of the metallic closure strip upon the wound web.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2, showing the manner in which the presser foot gradually folds over and clinches the prongs of the closure strip.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1 through the strip guide.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Figure 1 and illustrating the mandrel and pressure roll.

Figure 7 is an end view of a completely wound shell with the metallic closure strip in section.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a similar view taken on the line 99 of Figure 7' illustrating a complete shell and strip assembly; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of a complete carton having a cover attached to the metallic strip.

As previously stated, machines have been devised for forming fibrous container shellsv and simultaneously inserting metallic strips between layers of the wound web in the manner disclosed in the accompanying drawings. However, machines now in use, employ pressure rolls having continuous surfaces, and, therefore, any burrs or protrusions struck out of the metallic strips do not pierce through the web, but become insecurely imbedded into the inner surface of the web.

To my knowledge, provision of a metallic strip having struck out prongs disposed at right angles to the strip, which form the subject matter of another application Serial No. 392,413, filing date May 8, 1941, is novel with me. However, a strip formed in accordance with the foregoing could not be assembled with a wound. fibrous shell in machines of existing types for the reasons stated,

Therefore, the present invention is concerned primarily with the mechanism for causing the prongs of the inserted metallic strips to pierce the fibrous web, in combination with means for subsequently folding the projected ends of the prongs back upon the pierced web to form a crimped hook serving to securely lock the metal strip between layers of the fiber shell.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the numeral I designates a table for supporting a fibrous web F, the forward end of which is connected to a cylindrical mandrel 2, provided with a gripping bar 3 carried by arms 4 pivotally mounted within the mandrel. In the drawings, the gripping bar 3 is shown in operative position, however, after the web F has been severed and a shell has been completely wound, the arms 4 are automatically rocked by conventional mechanism (not shown) to retract the gripping bar and permit the insertion of a succeeding end of the web.

The shell S illustrated in the drawings consists of a plurality of turns of the web F, and in the present instance, upon the completion of three turns, a metallic strip 5 is introduced between the web and the preceeding turns, by a guide 6 as best shown in Figure 1.

Mounted above the mandrel 2 is a bracket 1, which carries a pressure roll 8 cooperating with the driven mandrel 2 to create tension upon the web, and press the turns together to bind the adhesive with which a surface of the web is coated.

The foregoing is not new, and, therefore, forms no part of the present invention other than in the combination as hereinafter claimed. The salient feature of the invention resides in causing the prongs 5' to pierce and project beyond the web as the two travel over the mandrel. This is accomplished by providing the pressure roll 8 with longitudinally spaced circumferential grooves 9 which straddle the prongs 5. Consequently, the roller 8 has no effect upon the prongs, but forces the web down upon the prongs with resultant piercing of the same.

Positioned at the rear of the pressure roll and supported in bosses carried by the bracket 1, are presser feet ll normally urged toward the mandrel by spring I2. As will be noted in Figure 1, the lower face of the presser foot is arouate to conform to the periphery of the wound web when the same has reached the diameter at which the metallic strip is introduced.

As best shown in Figure 4, one side ll of the presser foot is disposed at an angle to and intersecting the path of travel of the prongs 5'. Consequently, as the prongs are engaged by the face I 1', they are gradually cammed or bent over, until upon leaving the rear end of the foot, they are completely folded down upon the outer surface of the pierced turn for securely clinching the strip to the web. Subsequently, the clinched prongs are covered by an outer turn after which the web is severed and the operation repeated.

It is to be understood that all operations pertaining to severing of the web and the introduction of the metallic strips, are mechanically timed and controlled, but inasmuch as these features are old, it is considered unnecessary to illustrate or describe the mechanism specifically.

The novel method included in the present invention consists, in forming a tubular fibrous container shell by winding an adhesive coated web upon a mandrel; simultaneously introducing a metallic strip having longitudinally alined spaced prongs between the turns of said web adjacent their edges; exerting pressure upon said web to force the same downwardly upon the prongs causing them to pierce and project through said web; then bending the ends of the prongs back upon the web; and consequently covering the bent prongs with an additional wind of the web.

From the foregoing explanation considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that an extremely simple mechanism has been provided for effectively clinching a metal closure strip between the layers of a wound fibrous container shell, which eliminates all possibility of stripping the closure from the shell upon development of excessive pressure, without first rupturing either the shell or end closure.

While the structure of the end closure forms no part of the invention, Figure '7 illustrates one manner in which a metal cap C may be subsequently attached to the metallic strip 5 by a conventional can beading machine.

I claim:

1. In a container producing machine, a rotated mandrel for receiving a fibrous web and winding the same to provide a plurality of layers, means for guiding a metallic strip having longitudinally alined struck out prongs between turns of said web, a pressure roller cooperating with said mandrel for engaging the web upon opposite sides of the prongs to force the web toward said strip and cause the prongs to pierce and project beyond the web, and means for subsequently engaging the ends of said prongs and folding the same back upon said web.

2. In a container producing machine, a rotated mandrel for receiving a fibrous web and winding the same to provide a plurality of layers, means for guiding a metallic strip having longitudinally alined struck out prongs between turns of said web, a pressure roller cooperating with said mandrel for engaging the web upon opposite sides of the prongs to force the web toward said strip and cause the prongs to pierce and project beyond the web, and a presser foot for subsequently engaging the ends of said prongs and folding the same back upon said web.

3. In a container producing machine, a rotated mandrel for receiving a fibrous web and winding the same to provide a plurality of layers, means for guiding a metallic strip having longitudinally alined struck out prongs between turns of said web adjacent one of its edges, a pressure roller cooperating with said mandrel and provided with a circumferential groove alined with and straddling said prongs to engage said web and force the same downwardly over said prongs, and means for subsequently engaging the ends of said prongs and folding the same back upon said web.

4. In a container producing machine, a rotated mandrel for receiving a fibrous web and winding the same to provide a plurality of layers, means for guiding a metallic strip having longitudinally alined struck out prongs between turns of said web adjacent one of its edges, a presser roller cooperating with said mandrel and provided with a circumferential groove alined with and straddling said prongs to engage said web and force the same downwardly over said prongs, and a presser foot for subsequently engaging the ends of said prongs and folding the same back upon said web.

5. In a container producing machine, a rotated mandrel for receiving a fibrous web and winding the same to provide a plurality of layers, means for guiding a metallic strip having longitudinally alined struck out prongs between turns of said web, a pressure roller cooperating with said mandrel for engaging the web upon opposite sides of the prongs to force the web toward said strip and cause the prongs to pierce and project beyond the web, and a presser foot for subsequently engaging the ends of said prongs and folding the same back upon said web, said presser foot having a face conforming to the periphery of the wound web, and an angular side face for engagement with the prongs in the path of travel of said prongs to efiect gradual bending of the same in one direction.

6. In a container producing machine, a rotated mandrel for receiving a fibrous web and Winding the same to provide a plurality of layers, means for guiding a metallic strip having longitudinally alined struck out prongs between turns of said web adjacent one of its edges, a pressure roller cooperating with said mandrel and provided with a circumferential groove alined with and straddling said prongs to engage said web and force the same downwardly over said prongs, and a presser foot for subsequently engaging the ends of said prongs and folding the same back upon said web, said presser foot having a face conforming to the periphery of the wound web, and an angular side face for engagement with the prongs in the path of travel of said prongs to efiect gradual bending of the same in one direction.

HAROLD E. RUE. 

